systems and methods implementing a resonance circuit, including an avalanche photodiode, in which a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit is matched with the frequency of a dynamic biasing signal of the avalanche photodiode, can be used in a variety of applications. In various embodiments, a method for blocking and/or compensating current injection associated with the parasitic capacitance of APDs operated under dynamic biasing may be substantially realized by the matching of the resonance frequency of a resonance circuit including the avalanche photodiode with the frequency of an applied dynamic biasing signal. Additional systems and methods are described that can be used in a variety of applications.
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1. A system comprising:
an avalanche photodiode arranged to operate in reverse bias under dynamic biasing with respect to a dynamic biasing signal, the dynamic biasing signal having a frequency of operation; and
an inductance element coupled electrically in parallel with the avalanche photodiode in an implementation of a resonance circuit with a parasitic capacitance of the avalanche photodiode, the resonance circuit having a resonance frequency matched with the frequency of the dynamic biasing signal.
2. The system of
3. The system of
4. The system of
5. The system of
6. The system of
7. The system of
receive the dynamic biasing signal;
provide an output to the avalanche photodiode with the avalanche photodiode arranged to receive an optical signal; and
provide the output to a dummy avalanche photodiode with the dummy avalanche photodiode arranged to not receive the optical signal.
8. The system of
9. The system of
10. The system of
11. The system of
12. The system of
13. The system of
the inductance element and the avalanche photodiode are arranged to couple to a direct current voltage bias by a bias inductor and to couple to receive the dynamic biasing signal via a capacitor external to the avalanche photodiode; and
the inductor and the dummy avalanche photodiode are arranged to couple to the direct current voltage bias by the bias inductor and to couple to receive the dynamic biasing signal via the capacitor external to the avalanche photodiode.
14. The system of
16. The system of
17. The system of
19. The system of
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This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/720,249, filed 22 May 2015, which application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/002,352, filed 23 May 2014, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates generally to electronic structures and devices.
Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are important components in low-cost optical receivers. However, due to their long buildup time, current APDs typically are not able to meet the requirements for high bit-rate telecom systems. Currently, there appears to be no commercially available telecommunications APDs that can operate at the rate of 40 Gbps. A dynamic biasing method has been shown to be a novel solution that potentially improves the speed and sensitivity of APDs needed for 40 GB/S light-wave systems and beyond. Dynamic biasing of an APD is a non-constant bias of the APD.
A difficulty in implementing dynamic biasing APDs is their parasitic capacitance that causes a dynamic-bias signal to be injected into the optical current generated by the APD. See
There are few existing techniques that have been suggested to address the issue of current-injection problem in dynamic biasing APDs. These include the use of a notch filter to eliminate the injected bias noise as shown in
Another technique includes the use of a dummy APD and differential signaling technique to eliminate the dynamic bias that appears as a common-mode signal, as shown in
Another technique includes the use of a dummy APD with differential biasing technique to address the issue, as shown in
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration and not limitation, various example embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice these and other embodiments. In order to avoid obscuring embodiments of the invention, some well-known system configurations and process steps are not disclosed in detail. Other embodiments may be utilized, and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made to these embodiments. The various embodiments are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
In various embodiments, the effect of the parasitic capacitance of the APD can be eliminated and/or compensated by creating a resonance circuit that is adjusted for the frequency of the dynamic biasing signal.
With the APD 605 and external inductor 614 in parallel, both are coupled to the same bias sources. With notch filter 615 coupled to the external inductor 614 and APD 605, notch filter 615 can provide a voltage output in response to an optical signal incident on APD 605. Though APD 605 and external inductor 614 are shown as coupled to ground via a 50 ohm resistor, other size resistors may be used depending on the application. Additionally, another reference may be used other than ground. As above, the resonance circuit 612 filters only the injected bias current right where it is created by the APD's parasitic capacitance 610. The resonance circuit 612 minimally affects the photocurrent created by the active region of the APD 605.
Dummy APD 720 can be implemented in a resonance circuit 722 with an external inductor 724 placed in parallel to parasitic capacitance 726 of APD 720. External inductor 724 can be a discrete inductor or an integrated inductor. Other techniques can be realized using open- or short-ended strip-lines as the external inductor. The inductance value of external inductor 724 may equal or be substantially equal to inductance value of external inductor 714.
A dynamic bias generator 730 can provide a drive signal to a differential amplifier 725 that is coupled to both APD 705 and dummy APD 720. Differential amplifier 725 can be realized as a RF differential amplifier. APD 705 can be coupled to dummy APD 720 at an input to transimpedance amplifier 715, where transimpedance amplifier 715 can provide a voltage output in response to an optical signal incident on APD 705. As above, the resonance circuit 712 filters only the injected bias current right where it is created by the APD's parasitic capacitance. The resonance circuit 712 minimally affects the photocurrent created by the active region of the APD 705.
With the APD 805 and external inductor 814 in parallel, both are coupled to the same bias sources. APD 805 can be arranged in a differential signaling technique with a dummy APD 820 using a differential amplifier 815. Differential amplifier 815 may be realized as an RF differential amplifier. Dummy APD 820 can be implemented in a resonance circuit 822 with an external inductor 824 placed in parallel to parasitic capacitance 826 of APD 820. External inductor 824 can be a discrete inductor or an integrated inductor. Other techniques can be realized using open- or short-ended strip-lines as the external inductor. The inductance value of external inductor 824 may equal or be substantially equal to inductance value of external inductor 814.
Dummy APD 820 can be coupled the same bias sources as APD 805. APD 805 can be coupled to an input to differential amplifier 815 and dummy APD 820 can be coupled to another input to differential amplifier 815. In this arrangement, differential amplifier 815 can provide a voltage output in response to an optical signal incident on APD 805. Though APD 805 and dummy APD 820 are shown as coupled to ground via a 50 ohm resistor, other size resistors may be used depending on the application. Additionally, another reference may be used other than ground. As above, the resonance circuit 812 filters only the injected bias current right where it is created by the APD's parasitic capacitance. The resonance circuit 812 minimally affects the photocurrent created by the active region of the APD 805.
Method 1000 or similar methods can include applying a noise cancellation technique to improve signal-to-noise ratio of the avalanche photodiode as a receiver in addition to operating the avalanche photodiode in the resonance circuit with the inductance element.
Method 1000 or similar methods can include generating the output signal from the optical signal to include using a notch filter having an output to provide the output signal with an input of the notch filter coupled to the inductance element.
Method 1000 or similar methods can include operating the avalanche photodiode and a dummy avalanche photodiode in a differential signaling arrangement, the inductance element in parallel with the parasitic capacitance being a first inductor coupled to the dummy avalanche photodiode, the dummy avalanche photodiode in parallel with a second inductor, the output signal being provided from a transimpedance amplifier coupled to the avalanche photodiode and the dummy avalanche photodiode.
Method 1000 or similar methods can include operating the avalanche photodiode and a dummy avalanche photodiode in a differential biasing arrangement, the inductance element in parallel with the parasitic capacitance being a first inductor coupled to a dummy avalanche photodiode, the dummy avalanche photodiode in parallel with a second inductor, the dummy avalanche photodiode coupled to an input of a differential amplifier and the avalanche photodiode coupled to another input of the differential amplifier, the differential amplifier having an output to provide the output signal.
Method 1100 or similar methods can include the selected inductance element being a discrete inductor. Other realizations of an inductance element may be used, such as but not limited to, an integrated inductor, open- or short-ended strip-lines, or combinations of inductance elements.
Method 1100 or similar methods can include coupling the inductance element to a notch filter and arranging an output of the notch filter to operatively provide an output signal in response to an optical signal incident on the avalanche photodiode.
Method 1100 or similar methods can include disposing the avalanche photodiode with a dummy avalanche photodiode in a differential signaling arrangement; coupling the inductance element in parallel with the parasitic capacitance as a first inductor coupled to the dummy avalanche photodiode; coupling a second inductor in parallel with the dummy avalanche photodiode; and coupling the avalanche photodiode and the dummy avalanche photodiode to a transimpedance amplifier, the transimpedance amplifier to operatively provide an output signal in response to an optical signal incident on the avalanche photodiode.
Method 1100 or similar methods can include disposing the avalanche photodiode and a dummy avalanche photodiode in a differential biasing arrangement; coupling the inductance element in parallel with the parasitic capacitance as a first inductor coupled to a dummy avalanche photodiode; coupling a second inductor in parallel with the dummy avalanche photodiode; and coupling the dummy avalanche photodiode coupled to an input of a differential amplifier and coupling the avalanche photodiode to another input of the differential amplifier, the differential amplifier having an output to operatively provide an output signal in response to an optical signal incident on the avalanche photodiode.
System 1200 can be structured in a number of different formats. System 1200 may be realized as a system on a chip. System 1200 may be structured as a set of integrated circuits with an inductance element of the APD structured with a resonance circuit 1207 external to the chip containing the APD of the resonance circuit. System 1200 may be structured with the application device 1250 being components to provide the output signal in response to the optical signal received in system 1200. System 1200 may be structured with distributed components.
System 1200 or systems similar to system 1200 can include the resonance circuit implemented with the inductance element being a discrete inductor in parallel with the avalanche photodiode. System 1200, or systems similar to system 1200, can include the resonance circuit implemented with the inductance element being an open-ended strip-line or short-ended strip-line. System 1200, or systems similar to system 1200, can include a varactor disposed in the resonance circuit to electronically fine-tune the resonance frequency.
System 1200, or systems similar to system 1200, can include the inductance element coupled to an input of a notch filter, the notch filter having an output to provide an output signal from an optical signal incident on the avalanche photodiode.
System 1200, or systems similar to system 1200, can include the inductance element in parallel with the parasitic capacitance being a first inductor coupled to a dummy avalanche photodiode, the dummy avalanche photodiode in parallel with a second inductor, with the avalanche photodiode and the dummy avalanche photodiode in a differential signaling arrangement. In a differential signaling arrangement, system 1200 or systems similar to system 1200 can comprise a differential amplifier coupled to an end of the avalanche photodiode opposite coupling of the avalanche photodiode to the dummy avalanche photodiode and coupled to an end of the dummy avalanche photodiode opposite coupling of the dummy avalanche photodiode to the avalanche photodiode; a dynamic bias generator coupled to the differential amplifier to provide input to the differential amplifier; and a transimpedance amplifier having an input coupled to the avalanche photodiode and the dummy avalanche photodiode and having an output to provide an output signal from an optical signal incident on the avalanche photodiode. The differential amplifier can be realized as a radio frequency differential amplifier. Inductance value of the first inductor may equal inductance value of the second inductor.
System 1200, or systems similar to system 1200, can include the inductance element in parallel with the parasitic capacitance being a first inductor coupled to a dummy avalanche photodiode, the dummy avalanche photodiode in parallel with a second inductor, with the avalanche photodiode and the dummy avalanche photodiode in a differential biasing arrangement. In a differential biasing arrangement, system 1200 or systems similar to system 1200 can include the avalanche photodiode and the dummy avalanche photodiode coupled to receive the same bias signal, the dummy avalanche photodiode coupled to an input of a differential amplifier and the avalanche photodiode coupled to another input of the differential amplifier, the differential amplifier having an output to provide an output signal from an optical signal incident on the avalanche photodiode. The differential amplifier can be realized as a radio frequency differential amplifier. Inductance value of the first inductor equals inductance value of the second inductor.
In various embodiments, a new method for blocking and/or compensating the problem of current injection associated with the parasitic capacitance of APDs operated under dynamic biasing may be realized by implementing a resonance circuit whose resonance frequency is matched with the frequency of the dynamic biasing signal. The resonance circuit can be implemented using a discrete inductor in parallel with the APD or any other circuit techniques, such as open- or short-ended strip-lines. For added flexibility, a varactor may be used in the resonance circuit to electronically fine-tune the resonance frequency. Such methods can also be applied to any other noise cancellation methods used for improving signal-to-noise ratio of APD receivers.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. Upon studying the disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the devices and methods of various embodiments of the invention. Various embodiments can use permutations and/or combinations of embodiments described herein. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive, and that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description.
Zarkesh-Ha, Payman, Hayat, Majeed M.
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